AGRICULTURE


MoFA sensitizes farmers at Adenya in Akuapem North Municipal

Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) extension outfit in Akropong-Akuapemon Wednesday, 23rdJanuary, 2019 educated a group of vegetable and maize farmers in the Adenya community on fall army worm infestation.

Date Created : 1/28/2019 2:59:55 AM : Story Author : Samuel Y Kumah/Ghanadistricts.com

The idea was also geared towards sensitizing them on the government programme of Planting for Food and job to encourage the youth in venturing into Agriculture in the municipality.

Interacting with the farmers, the head of extension at the MoFA division in Akropong, Mr. Samuel Mensah made the farmers understood that infestation of fall army worm was a normal situation which affects maize farms from season to season.

He said infestation of the pest mostly contributes largely to reduction of maize production in every community hence, the department is trying all avenues it could to curb or reduce the menace.

This has obliged extension officers to go round sensitizing farmers to take precautionary measures. The farmers were guided to identify fall army worms infestation, how to prevent and control and safety measures to employ when controlling the pests.



Again Mr. Lincoln Mensah also seized the opportunity to advice the farmers to develop the habit of spraying their farms periodically to prevent pests and other diseases infesting their crops. He said the government has lived up to its mandate by providing enough NPK, urea and Ammonium subsidized fertilizers as well as maize, cucumber, pepper, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage and onion seeds at a reduced cost for vegetable farmers.

This, he said would go along way to help increase farm produce as well as encourage the youth to take to farming as a vocation.

The group were also taken through some methods off arming and practices such as shifting cultivation which gives room for infestation of fall armyworms when the land is put back to use.

Mr. Lincoln Mensah advised the group not to hesitate to draw the attention of MoFA any time they need help.